Outside
The reason why they had left
They could never remember why.
It was their daughter's sixteenth birthday and for some reason they left the castle.
--
Was there
A problem with some man? woman? thing?
In the town? country? place?
Or maybe it was
Whatever it was it had seemed terribly important.
At the time.
--
When they returned,
No more than an hour or two later
(Maybe that was why they left:
Their errand was meant to take
No time at all.)
The drawbridge did not open.
--
It wouldn't open.
The bridge-drawer was asleep.
--
And she screamed:
No, no, please don't– I want to be inside. Let me inside, I want ... Don't do this to me, I don't – you can't – I want to be with my daughter. Let me in, let me in, let me in. You can't do this, damn you. I won't let you – I'll swim the moat, I'll climb the walls, I'll, I'll ... Please. It's my daughter – it's my only child. Stupid fairies - stupid, stupid ... where are you? Help me.